ALISON SAAR IN PRINT AT THE NMWA

From 10 June through to 2 October you can catch the striking print work of artist Alison Saar at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Although primarily working with sculptures, the bright evocative

From 10 June through to 2 October you can catch the striking print work of artist Alison Saar at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Although primarily working with sculptures, the bright evocative prints reflect Saar’s focus on the history, culture and identity of the African diaspora with particular reference to issues of race and gender. There are also deep allusions to a rich spiritual tradition. Even her color palette is indicative of the Yoruba spirits – red for Shango, the god of thunder, and blue for Yemaya, the goddess of the sea.

The exhibition includes sixteen of the artist’s work, much of which can be interpreted as autobiographical. Saar will often use ‘found’ objects to create her sculptures and she uses the same technique for her print work. For her print Snake Man (1994) for example, she utilized a discarded and cracked piece of linoleum to make the print, imbuing the figure with a unique textured appearance. There is often a link between her print work and her sculptures. For example, her print Pallor Tricks (2004) is related to her sculpture Pallor Trick (2013). Both titles involve a play on words with ‘pallor’ referencing both a parlor trick and using the word pallor to draw attention to the translucent white sheet which partially obscures the dark skin of the figure.

“Experienced in numerous printmaking techniques, Saar considers herself primarily a woodcarver, feeling that wood best renders her ‘mark,’” said Curatorial Assistant Stephanie Midon. “She typically crafts her print images after completing related sculptures, using printmaking as a mode to expand on themes of identity, womanhood, history and culture.”

Alison Saar in Print runs from 10 June to 2 October (10 am – 5pm Monday to Saturday and Sunday 12pm -5pm)